Some critics suggest that the college curriculum is not integrated.  Rather it is a series of content based courses that does not "tie" together its various components.  This course by the nature of its content addresses one issue that has ramifications in a multiplicity of ways.  During the course references have been made directly and indirectly to qualitative improvements.  Ultimately, accreditation processes and outcomes must be weighed against other means to achieve positive outcomes.

Your challenge in this assignment is to develop a project that is interdisciplinary in content that addresses quality improvement or continuous quality improvement.  You are limited only by your imagination.  The project can be a traditional paper, a video, a research study design, experiential training exercises, a training design for site visitors or self-study committees or any other mechanism you wish to pursue.  It could be a report from you about a self-study process or a site visit by an accreditation team.  It could be a report of your participation in a site visitor workshop.

It should integrate the application of Deming and/or others who have provided us with a framework for examining improvement in a systematic way.  This may require additional reading for you. See references in Working Papers.

Since this project account for a major portion (20%) of the final grade, it should reflect that level of activity.  Nevertheless, it is only one aspect of the course and you should not be overwhelmed by the indefinite nature of the assignment.

Submit a one to two paragraph statement to your instructor that will provide an overview of the project and a "picture" of the finished project.  This will need to be done sometime during the semester but no later than the 5th week.  The instructor will approve the scope and format of the project using the information you provide.  Obviously, a discussion may be useful prior to or after submission.

The project will be due the last class via mail or e-mail.  The instructor will ask you to give a profile to other members of the class after the project is approved.

Please do not try to do too much in this assignment.  It should be an integrating experience for you and make it enjoyable if you can as you add to your understanding.